The Evangeline Parish Police Jury held its August meeting Monday night in the Courthouse.  The Jury once again discussed collection of incredibly delinquent sewer bills in the Parish and the options they may use to collect the approximately $109,000.00 in overdue accounts.  Parish Attorney, Marcus Fontenot commented to the Jury that if a person has not paid their sewer bill, then they are not in compliance with the parish Sanitation Ordinances and therefore the Jury should be able to revoke that person’s electrical permit.  However, Sabrina Salling, with CLECO addressed the Jury and informed them that even if someone’s electrical permit is revoked, CLECO cannot disconnect someone’s service for the Jury.  CLECO only disconnects service for their customers if there is a dangerous situation or if that customer has not paid its bill to CLECO.  They are regulated by the Louisiana Public Service Commission and she stated there is nothing in their rules that allows CLECO to turn off the power to someone’s home because of their non-payment to another company or entity.  The Police Jury voted to send a letter to the Louisiana Public Service Commission and ask them to change the rules and allow the Police Jury to have CLECO shut off the power to those who do not pay their sewage bill.  As a side note, the Police Jury was written up by their auditor for failing to collect on the accounts.  It is the Jury’s responsibility to do that.

The Jury has been taking bids for the sale of the old Evangeline Parish Library.  They received a bid of $52,000.00 from A&D Rental Properties owned by Dirk Deville and Casey Ardoin.  Juror, Rocky Rider made a motion to take the offer and “be done with it”.  He said they have been dealing with it a long time.  The Jury voted unanimously to sell the building for the $52,000.00 bid.  They also agreed to earmark that money to be used for construction of a new storage building for the Clerk of Court, Sheriff, District Attorney, and others who are paying storage fees.

There will be a public hearing before next month’s meeting regarding changes to the Parish-wide Nuisance Property Ordinance wherein it could make nuisance properties come with penalty, fines and even potential criminal charges.